New Duc Issues

[corndog67]

In the intro page, I explained that yesterday, I bought an 01 S4, 12000 miles, Ohlins shock, Leo pipes, chip, some nice stuff, a very clean bike.   Also, yesterday, it refused to start once, and then started fine.  Today I go for maybe a 10 minute putt, get back a 1/2 block from my house, and the bike stalls, won't restart.  When I get it home, I notice that I don't hear the fuel pump when I turn the key on.   I look and the fuse is blown.  I replace the fuse and the pump comes on without the key on.  I lift the tank back up and the wires going to the pump are all mashed up, looking like they have been rubbing on the rear cylinder head.  I call the shop where I bought it, and they are coming to get it on Monday, since my house is 90 miles from their shop.  They are going to replace the wiring under the tank, which I believe will solve the current problem, a short where the wires are smashed, but I'm wondering, is this a common problem on these bikes?  Also, the tank bung where the wires come out of the pump is kind of raised from the bottom surface of the tank, I mean it hangs lower, and there is a pretty thick, maybe 7/8 of an inch plastic junction where the wires go into the tank.  Is it common for the wires to get pinched between the wire junction and the rear cylinder head?   Is there a fix for it, short of making a new little wire junction that is thinner?


Next question, what is the Ducati parts situation if they have to order parts, which I assume they will?   Is it like my Honda and Yamaha, 2-3 days, or is it like my old Daytona, 3-4 weeks? 

Thanks, Robert

[ducpainter]

This will get better, and more replies in Tech, so I'm going to move it.

[corndog67]

Thanks Painter.   If I had only known. 

[ducpainter]

Thanks Painter.   If I had only known. 

To answer your question about the bikes, and the parts...

Ducs have quirks, but the wiring under the tank should be held up away from the head by a clip on the harness. That problem was either previous owner or technician induced.

A good dealer can get most things in a few days. Make sure they order it VOR and not on a stock order. Ducati handles different orders differently.

[DoubleEagle]

Good Luck. Let us know how this turns out.     Dolph       

[corndog67]

To answer your question about the bikes, and the parts...

Ducs have quirks, but the wiring under the tank should be held up away from the head by a clip on the harness. That problem was either previous owner or technician induced.

A good dealer can get most things in a few days. Make sure they order it VOR and not on a stock order. Ducati handles different orders differently.

Painter, the wiring chinga underneath the tank appears to be a factory item, the wires come out of a plastic plug connected to the bottom of the tank and seem to have a 90 degree turn, and the tank seems to be too close to the cylinder head, the wires get mashed just inside of the right hand screw on top of the valve cover.  I think my tank rubbers are in good shape, we'll see what Santa Barbara Ducati does for a fix.  I'll keep you guys updated.

Robert

[ducpainter]

Painter, the wiring chinga underneath the tank appears to be a factory item, the wires come out of a plastic plug connected to the bottom of the tank and seem to have a 90 degree turn, and the tank seems to be too close to the cylinder head, the wires get mashed just inside of the right hand screw on top of the valve cover.  I think my tank rubbers are in good shape, we'll see what Santa Barbara Ducati does for a fix.  I'll keep you guys updated.

Robert

The tank is close...true.

There is a small tab on the bottom of the tank and a slot in the connector for the wires. It's not supposed to hit the head.

[WTSDS]

Assuming the '01 is similar to the '00, the undertank wiring and fuel plumbing arrangement is poxy.

If you try to get it all nice with the tank lifted up it WILL end up messy when the tank is down, there will be tension on the wiring and things will get jammed.

I spent some time trying different ways of routing the wiring between the fuel lines and observed what happened as the tank was lifted or lowered. What worked for me was having the wiring bundle almost too tight when lifted, then it all settled in OK when lowered.

[corndog67]

Well, they put a new wiring/plug set up in, and a new sending unit (integral with the wiring), fixed the oil leak (crush washer on the drain plug), and for my time and trouble, the are giving me a new Stealth steel outer, aluminum inner sprocket for free, which is what I use on my dirt bike, and they just don't wear out.  They are supposed to deliver it tomorrow.

[corndog67]

Get the bike back yesterday, runs great, still drips oil.  I'll fix it myself, I suppose.

[Speeddog]

Where is it leaking oil from?

[corndog67]

It seems to be migrating from one of the case screws down on the bottom, I hope it isn't between the cases.  The shop said they put a new crush washer on it,  and a shifter shaft seal, but I haven't really had a good look see yet, maybe tonight.  What are the common places for oil leaks down below?

Thanks, Robert

[Duck-Stew]

It seems to be migrating from one of the case screws down on the bottom, I hope it isn't between the cases.  The shop said they put a new crush washer on it,  and a shifter shaft seal, but I haven't really had a good look see yet, maybe tonight.  What are the common places for oil leaks down below?

Thanks, Robert

About 18 mo. ago now, Ducati changed the composition of the rubber that the oil filter uses to seal against the block.  It's now REALLY stiff as compared to the older rubber.  In my experience, the filter needs to be tightened a lot more than it ought to in order to seal up to the case.  I've never not been able to remove one...but they still need more tightening than they should get (IMO).

BTW, it's a V-twin so bolts will loosen themselves up some over time/mileage.  Might be a good idea to check the bolts between the engine case halves **VERY CAREFULLY AND WITH A TORQUE WRENCH**.

Take care, ride safe...
--Stuart

[needtorque]

I know some of the air cooled monsters from that age had base gasket problems (base gasket is what seals the bottom of the cylinder) on the rear cylinder.  It would cause a build-up of oil which would then run down the back of the engine and drip off.  I don't know if the 4v from that period had the same problem or not.

[Speeddog]

A significant percentage of the S4's suffered from base gasket leaks.